Rosswog Running Blog

I woke up early this morning to pack for my return trip home to Salt Lake City!  However, time flew by and after I was finally packed, I realized I only gave myself 70 minutes to get in my 10-mile workout to satisfy my weekly mileage goal.  First, I really did not want to go on a second run when I got home.  Second, I have not come close to running a 7:00 minute-per-mile pace for this type of distance for well over a month.  With this said and my right shine being a little tender, I took to my hotel’s treadmill with the goal to see how fast I could get myself going.  In other words, my final real test before Saturday’s marathon.  My right shin seemed to relax a little bit and the soreness subsided the faster I pushed and the further I went.  I slowly increased the tempo to marathon pace then just let it ride.  I was able to get in 10.1 miles in 1:09:58 (five miles at an easy pace and the rest at marathon pace) before catching my flight back to Salt Lake City.  That extra 0.1 was very rewarding (i.e., progress is being made on the injury front)!

First thing in the morning, I got in my non-running workout of 300 sit-ups.

Five-Minute Plank Challenge:  2:00

Trying-To-Go-Out-Of-My-Way-To-Eat-Healthy Challenge:  a mango fruit smoothie

Light workout out today of splitting my time between the elliptical machine and the treadmill; 1.8 miles on the former and 2.3 miles on the latter.

For my non-running workout I was able to get in 300 sit-ups.

Five-Minute Plank Challenge:  2:00

Trying-To-Go-Out-Of-My-Way-To-Eat-Healthy Challenge:  serving of oatmeal and two whole-wheat tuna sandwiches

My legs are feeling better (i.e., just heavy) and I’m really hoping to be done with the elliptical machine for the near future. As a result, I kept my workout to the treadmill and a jog around the neighborhood. In total, I was able to get in a 10k at an easy pace.

My non-running workout consisted of 300 sit-ups and 30 (50 lbs) curls.

Five-Minute Plank Challenge: 2:00

Trying-To-Go-Out-Of-My-Way-To-Eat-Healthy Challenge: serving of oatmeal and two whole-wheat tuna sandwiches

It was just another light day of running; that is, overall a 10k with 3.5 miles of this distance on the treadmill and the remaining 2.7 miles consisting of an evening jog around the neighborhood.

In regards to my non-running workout, I completed 300 sit-ups and 30 (50 lbs) curls.

Five-Minute Plank Challenge:  2:00

Trying-To-Go-Out-Of-My-Way-To-Eat-Healthy Challenge:  serving of oatmeal and a serving of peas

I’m getting tired of the treadmill--which seems to be beating up my legs more these days than lessening the pounding on them--I hit the streets after work. My right knee was a little bit sore, but I was able to get in 8.1 miles (i.e., one-and-a-half laps) around the International Center at an easy pace.

For my non-running workout, I was able to get in 300 sit-ups.

Five-Minute Plank Challenge: 2:00

Trying-To-Go-Out-Of-My-Way-To-Eat-Healthy Challenge: serving of oatmeal

My right knew was a little bit stiff today; therefore, I headed out and biked 9.2 miles while accomplishing a few errands.  Then in the late afternoon, I jogged over the Big Cottonwood Park and completed four-and-a-half laps around the park’s dirt trail for a total of 5.7 miles.  My right knee started to loosen up a little bit and I’m just hoping it will hold up for the entire 26.2 miles tomorrow.  Regardless, it will be a fun experience!

Besides my bike ride, my non-running workout consisted of 300 sit-ups.

Five-Minute Plank Challenge:  2:00 

Trying-To-Go-Out-Of-My-Way-To-Eat-Healthy Challenge:  serving of oatmeal, two fruit smoothies, and three servings of whole-wheat pasta

I woke up this morning and my right knee just felt all achy and stiff; therefore, I spent some time trying to stretch it out.  I just kept telling myself that it was more mental than anything and I needed to get over with being injured.  Then I looked at my watch and realized I was way behind schedule.  Consequently, I threw on my gear and grabbed my trusted water bottle and a few GUs before heading out to the starting line a little after 6:20 pm.  So instead of worrying about my leg, I was just worried about getting to the starting line in time (i.e., I’m always cutting it close and I did not want to repeat my late showing at the Marines Corps Marathon). 

Thankfully, the race started five minutes late and one-twentieth of a mile shorter than last year by starting in front of the bridge (i.e., I’m not going for a world record, so I’m not bothered if the mileage is a little off in a marathon, but my Garmin read 26.17 at the end when on a normal course it should read 26.3ish; not having us go all the way to 2100 south on Foothill and now moving the starting line up a little bit has shorten the course over the past few years--the turnaround at The Gateway has not netted out the decrease in distance).  This morning, I was really open to any help I could get!

At 7:05 am, the race started and I tried to play it a little bit conservative on the downhill.  However, I saw Chris--my SLRC training buddy--and since he is leaving Utah to go to ranger/jump school with the army in a few weeks, I increased the pace a little in order to touch base with him.  After talking with Chris for a minute, I let him go ahead even though he told me he was just on an easy half (i.e., I’m just intimidated by his speed). 

Shortly after passing mile marker three, it was pretty cool when a woman cheering on runners from the sidewalk hurriedly flipped on the big megaphone she was holding (side note: when I retire and live along a marathon course, I’m totally investing in an enormous megaphone) and excitedly announced something like “Go lady in purple!  You are the first girl!”  And I immediately thought, so this is what it’s like to roll with the future president.  Allie Scott was cruising along in our group of runners to a first place finish in the half marathon!

Around mile ten, while running through Holladay--my part of town--I noticed a familiar face cheering on the runners.  I have never met Jun, but about 20 meters after passing him and his family, I then realized it was our legendary ultra marathoner cheering us on.  Thanks Jun for your support!

On the Van Winkle Expressway, my right leg was acting up a little bit; that is, really not hindering my pace, but I stubbed my right foot pretty hard twice on the flat road from simply not picking up my leg (my toenails look nasty because of it).  I must have looked pretty pathetic.  Also, while running up 500 East, I was just slapping my right foot on the ground which was a strange contrast to the light footwork its counterpart was doing.  More than anything, the loud slap of my right foot against the ground was just annoying.

Around 2500 South and 500 East, I ran by the infamous “Temptation Station.”   It’s so mean and wrong (i.e., a full on barbecue with plenty of beverages), but so funny and what is great about this race.  Every year they just seem to take their game to the next level; for example, this year they had a professionally looking “Temptation Station” sign hanging from the telephone pole and a Nike sign that read, “Just Screw It.”  Needless to say, they always make me crackup and one year I might just have to take a 45 minute split on mile 21 for brat or two. 

I was very happy to cross the finish line in front of an awesome crowd at The Gateway.  Overall it was a fun experience and I was happy to finally get in my first marathon for 2011.  Des-News and NYC are next up!  Oh yeah, I ended running a 2:50:39.  Regardless of my troublesome right leg, it really did not impact my pace (i.e., the adrenaline and the distance really balanced out the aches and stiffness), so this race accurately reflects where I’m at.  My splits for the race were as follows:  5:55, 6:12, 5:58, 5:55, 6:12, 6:32, 6:38, 6:37, 6:39, 6:20, 6:17, 6:36, 6:37, 6:14, 6:22, 6:36, 6:36, 6:33, 6:41, 6:51, 6:50, 6:48, 6:58, 6:51, 6:59 (the incline up to the Eagle Gate was still brutal), 6:48, and 1:04.

Finally, my daily non-running workout consisted of a 4.2-mile afternoon bike ride and 300 sit-ups.

Five-Minute Plank Challenge:  2:00

Trying-To-Go-Out-Of-My-Way-To-Eat-Healthy Challenge:  protein shake